Islamabad: Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif today demanded that nuclear scientist A Q Khan and Baloch nationalist leader Akhtar Mengal should be freed from detention and provided proper medical attention for their ailments.

Khan, placed under house arrest four years ago after he admitted to proliferating nuclear technology, was hospitalised yesterday after he fell ill. Mengal, arrested in 2006 during a government crackdown in Balochistan, was recently provided treatment for heart ailments.

In a statement issued today, Sharif expressed concern at reports about the illness of Khan and Mengal, a former chief minister of Balochistan. The PML-N chief said they should be released and provided best of medical facilities. "The whole nation is worried about the deteriorating health of A Q Khan. He should be immediately released so that he can have treatment from doctors of his choice," he said.

Detention and mental pressure were the main cause of Khan s health problems, he remarked. Seeking the release of Mengal, Sharif said, "After the success of democratic forces in the (February 18) elections, there is no logic for using such dictatorial tactics." The Pakistan People s Party, which emerged the largest group in the polls, has said it will form government with the backing of the PML-N.

Source : PTI